The Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, recently unveiled a statue of the Yoruba folklore heroine, Moremi Ajasoro, in Ile-Ife. The monarch, who before his ascendancy to the throne was a real estate mogul and hospitality magnate (his company owns the Inagbe Beach Resort in Lagos), has often spoken of his desire to make Ife a vibrant tourist destination.
The Moremi Statue stands in honour of the woman who lived in ancient times and led her people out of slavery. At 42 feet, the only statues in Africa that are taller are the Great Sphinx in Giza, Egypt (66 feet) and the African Renaissance Monument (161 feet) in Dakar, Senegal .
But on close observation, it looks a cousin of the American Statue of Liberty. They both have torches on their right hands, but our Moremi’s left hand is extended while Lady Liberty’s left hand is clutching a tablet.
Nevertheless, we’re not complaining. It feels good that Nigeria’s historical figures and tourism potentials are slowly but surely being recognized.